AMD fielding 64 bits for PCs: Good article on Zdnet

Adul

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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danny.tangtam.com
I want one :D
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-946228.html

But AMD says 64 bits can benefit consumers, making games more realistic with more lifelike characters and settings. Games can take advantage of the ability to move more data by tapping the ClawHammer's 64-bit-wide registers, which can handle twice as much data at once as current 32-bit chips like the Athlon XP.

More intense games will also undoubtedly require more memory, another reason AMD says 64 bits will sell. Games could also be written to run faster by loading completely into memory, then automatically expanding data caches--stores which hold often-used information--to fill the available memory space.

AMD isn't focused solely on games, though. The company asserts that peer-to-peer computing, new operating systems with more intense graphical interfaces, and applications such as voice recognition and video editing will also boost the need for performance, which can be delivered by the 64-bit chip, and will increase minimum requirements for memory in PCs.

Most new PCs come with 256MB or 512MB of RAM right now, but memory capacities are constantly increasing. Every year, memory manufacturers increase RAM chips' capacity to store data. By virtue of technology improvement alone, AMD asserts, PCs with 4GB or more of memory will begin arriving in 2004.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Here is another article on the hammer for those interested.

Adul, are you ready to get hammered? ;)
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: Adul
I want one :D


Most new PCs come with 256MB or 512MB of RAM right now, but memory capacities are constantly increasing. Every year, memory manufacturers increase RAM chips' capacity to store data. By virtue of technology improvement alone, AMD asserts, PCs with 4GB or more of memory will begin arriving in 2004.

For some "odd" reason I doubt that. AS long as it is not "essential" for system operation, manufactuers will still skimp for the cost savings.



About the 64bit chips..I think implementation will be harder than the "ideal,"obviously because programmers will have to change and I know some that growl pretty loudly at change.